An Exploratory Study of Status of Public Libraries in Tripura State Dr

International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Science & Technology www.irjmrs.com ISSN : 2455-930X

An Exploratory study of Status of Public Libraries in Tripura State Dr. Manoj Kumar Sinha1, Surendra Kumar Pal2, Saumen Datta3 1Associate Professor & Head DLIS, Assam University (A Central University), Silchar-788 011, Assam 2Assistant Librarian, Central Library, Tripura University, Agartala-799022, India 3Sr. Librarian, Tripura Public Service Commission, Agartala-799001, India

------***------Abstract - This paper is exploring the public libraries The innate rationalism of the public libraries services can system in the Tripura State of India. The public libraries in be apprehended at its best against the backdrop of the Tripura State are not in sufficient no against the State UNESCO Public Library Manifesto (1994) which states: "The population i.e. 3,671,032. So there is need to open more public library, the local gateway to knowledge, provides a public libraries in the state. According to IFLA (4) standard basic condition for lifelong learning, independent decision— there should be one library for every 3000 people. The total making and cultural development of the individual and social population of Tripura state is 3671032 as per census 2011. groups". It concedes that public libraries are the As there is only 25 Public Libraries in Tripura, so there is quintessence of their communities, which provides free, easy need of 1224 more public library to be open to provide the accessible spaces, resources and services for everyone. Being information to all Tripura people. a basic component of a nation`s knowledge tank, public libraries accommodates scholarly works and information in Key Words: Public Libraries, Public Libraries in Tripura, different formats and languages. Types of Public Libraries in Tripura. 1.1.Objective and Function of Public Libraries 1.INTRODUCTION The objective and function of public library as Public libraries strive to be one of the most popular enumerated by Dr. S. R. Ranganathan are as follows: cultural institution and a few civic or communal spaces that can be used gratuitously by the people for education and  In common work for continued social wellbeing as  enjoyment. The rationalism underlying the institution of the organization in charge of all socialized though. public library is to pave the way for greater accessibility to  Help the lifelong self education of one and every  information for every section of people living in a community one. regardless of their age, gender, education and socio-  Preserve the literacy remains of humanity for future economic milieu. According to (Mantel, 2011; Prentice, 2011) generations as vehicles of culture and source  public libraries in general are the crucial resources during materials for antiquarian research. the difficult economic times for job seeking and training, but  Distribute in an unbiased way all sources of are also one of the first public resources to face the budget recorded thoughts and reviews to one and every cuts. Moreover, public libraries have a positive impact on one, and serve as a help in the discharge of their children`s performance in school and on the neighborhood as political responsibilities in respect of local,  a place of stability and safety (Diamond, 2010). These are no international and national affairs. longer a collection of information resources and services but  Furnish up- to- date facts and information on all  are public places of importance that contribute to the social subject to one and every one. capital of their communities (Hillenbrand, 2005; Johnson,  Contribute to productive drive by information to 2010). However, (Rasmussen and Jochumsen, 2003) feel that management of the new trends in diverse this success of public libraries is not the same so that they enterprises by plugging back in the minds of can sit back and relax. They further argue that the foundation researchers, technologists and designers, every  of public libraries is surrounded with deep-rooted piece of relevant latest though promptly. uncertainty where one moment the book is declared dead,  Provide to one and every one worthy and elevating  the next alive and kicking and while some argue that the use of leisure. library should dissolve its physical presence into cyberspace, others suggest that the library should strengthen its role as a physical space in the local community.

American Library Association, in its publication entitled No. of Districts 08 Public Library Services: A Guide to Evaluation with Minimum

AREA (Sq.Kms) 10486.00 Standards, points out the function of a public library as follows: 1 POPULATION 2001 Persons 3,199,203

Males 1,642,225  To encourage wholesome pleasure and constructive Females 1,556,978 use of free time. 2011 Persons 3,671,032

 To meet the information required of every one. Males 1,874,376  To enrich and further growth the subjects on which  individuals are taking conventional education. Females 1,799,541

 To support the educational, culture and civic 2 DECADAL : 1991-2001 16.03  activities of organization and groups. GROWTH RATE 2001-2011 14.84

 To facilitate informal education of every one people 3 DENSITY : 2001 305  in the community. 2011 350

4 SEX RATIO : 2001 948

Public Library Enquiry Committee United Kingdom 2011 960 presents the following functions:  5 LITERACY 2001 Persons 73.19

  To provide authentic information to the community. RATE (%) Males 81.02  To provide opportunities for self education to young Females 64.91

people, children, women and men. 2011 Persons 87.22

 To collect resources on order to promote an Males 91.53 enlightened citizenship and enhance personal  life.(Thomas V.K 1997).: Females 82.73 

1.2.About Tripura State: The Land of Forest, Hills, Table -1: Statistical data of Tripura State as per the & River. 2011 Census, Govt. of India.

Tripura is a state in North East India & third-smallest Tripura is a land of forests, hills and rivers. Located in the state in the country. It covers 10,491 km2 (4,051 sq mi) and rugged and hilly terrain of the tropical forests, the erstwhile is bordered by Bangladesh (East Bengal) to the north, princely state of Tripura in north-eastern part of the country south, and west, and the Indian states of Assam and was abode of about 1 million people in 1949 when it merged Mizoram to the east. In 2011 the state had 3,671,032 with Independent India as a Union Territory. It was granted residents, constituting 0.3% of the country’s population. statehood in 1972. It is bounded by Bangladesh on three The Bengali Hindu people from the ethno linguistic sides sharing about 80% of its boundary of its perimeter. The majority in Tripura. Indigenous communities, known in remaining 20% of its boundary is shared with the states of India as scheduled tribes, form about 30 per cent of Assam and Mizoram through land routes, and have a narrow Tripura’s population. The Kokborok speaking Tripuri corridor with Assam to link the state with rest of the country. people are the major group among 19 tribes and many As per the 2011 census, the state has a total population subscribes. 3,671,032 comprising tribal and non-tribal. Nearly two-third of the area of the state is hilly and about 59% of its total area is covered with green forests. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Severe constraints of cheap and convenient modes of transport, geographic isolation and poor economic growth have not deterred the people of the state from acquiring education, and have a literacy rate of 97.75% as per the govt record of 2013.

In the 2011 census of India, Bengalis represented almost 70 per cent of Tripura’s population while the Tripuri population amounted to 30 per cent. The state’s "scheduled tribes", historically disadvantaged groups of people recognized by the country’s constitution, consist of 19 ethnic groups and many sub-groups, with diverse languages and cultures. In 2001, the largest such group was the Kokborok speaking Tripuris, which had a population of 543,848, representing 17.0 per cent of the state’s population and 54.7 per cent of the “scheduled tribe” population. The other major

© 2016, IRJMRS Volume: 01 Issue: 04 | August-2016 Page 179 International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Science & Technology www.irjmrs.com ISSN : 2455-930X groups, in descending order of population, were the Reang achievements to be reached. The public library functions (16.6 per cent of the indigenous population), Jamatia (7.5 under the Higher Education department of the Govt. of percent), Chakma (6.5 per cent), Halam (4.8 per cent), Mog Tripura. It appears that the said department is not looking (3.1 per cent), Munda (1.2 per cent), Kuki (1.2 per cent) and after the development of the public library as it deserves. It is Garo (1.1 per cent). Bengali is the most widely spoken also surprising that there is no Public Library Act for the language. Kokborok is a prominent language among the Public Library of Tripura. Tripura tribes.

2.OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY 1.3.History of Public Library in Tripura State

The main objectives of the study are: Tripura has its great and glorious past of the King Dynasty. The kings of Tripura were great patron of arts,  To know the Administrative & Functional Set-Up of culture and literature. The subsequent kings like Dhanya Public Libraries in Tripura State. Manikya(C.1490- 1520A.D.), Rajdhar Manikya(C.1586-  To know the No. of Public Libraries of Tripura State. 1680A.D.), Kalayan Manikya(C.1624-1660A.D.), Ramdev To explore & illustrate the categorized Public Manikya(C.1673-1660A.D.), Ramganga Manikya(C.1804- Libraries in Tripura State. 1809A.D.) and their successors established many institutions  To know the distinct wise public libraries in the for public utility. Maharaja Birchandra Manikya(1862- Tripura State. 1896A.D.) was not only an able ruler but a great lover of arts,  To justify the need of more Public Libraries against culture and university wits. He established a library at the population of the State. Comilla (now in Bangladesh) probably in the year 1896 A.D. which was then within his territorial jurisdiction and also a Das (2007) in his paper makes a theoretical discussion of very culturally enlightened place. This library was popularly the various services rendered by the rural public libraries for known as the Palace Library and was the first library in the the educational, socio-economic and cultural development of state. It was started with the collection of two hundred the rural masses and also put forward some suggestions for valuable books including manuscripts, palm leave puthy of abolition of illiteracy, socio-economic development of rural Bangal, hand written Rajmala, Krishnamala, Champak Vijoy people with the help of public libraries which is only possible and the other chronicles of the Royal house of Tripura. The though the enactment of library legislation in all the states King Radhakrishna Manikya (1896-1909A.D.) constructed the and UT of India in general and North Eastern States in Ujjayanta Palace Library in 1900 A.D. The establishment of Particular. the Palace Library was the land mark of the library movement of Tripura, though the library was closed to the common In his study, Sinha (2009) has picturesquely presented people. Afterwards the strictness was relaxed and the men of the Status of Public Libraries (Rural Libraries) in the North letters were permitted to use the said library. A great Eastern Region of India by pointing out the several aspects significant incident led to the bifurcation of the Place Library. by several heading by “the North Eastern Region (NE Region) In June, 1897 an earthquake shook the entire North-Eastern of India has attracted the attention of the Government of India and demolished almost all the important buildings of India since two decades for overall development of the Agartala. At that time the library collection was temporary region. The North Eastern Region comprises seven states shifted in a separated shed. The public in general were for the which are popularly known as seven sisters and recently in first time got a chance to use the library. Subsequently 2001 the eighth State “Sikkim’ has been included in the North important collections were housed in the Palace Library. After Eastern Region. These states, viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, several shifting, the library was housed in the present Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and location in a newly constructed building during the reign of Tripura. Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Bahadur in the year 1924. The library was kept open only for the four hours daily. The Jeena (2012) has enlighten the status of public Libraries palace library thus became the first public library in the state in Tripura are confronting with many problems due to lack of and is presently known as the Birchandra state Central physical, human and financial constraints as a result of which Library. It is matter of regret that after a long journey, the libraries are not capable to provide effective and efficient public library services in Tripura are not up-to-the-mark. services. This lacuna can only be overcome by imparting There are only 25 public libraries in the whole state. Lack of modernization in the Libraries of Tripura under the changing technical staffs and poor financial condition may be attributed information scenario and requires a drastic change to keep to the present unsatisfactory functioning of the public tune with other developed Library systems in India. libraries in Tripura. There are insufficient staffs, specialized in  the field, no computer facility and poor collections of valuable books and journals. The Libraries have become merely a store house of knowledge out of limited collection of books. In Tripura, public library has its more than one hundred year history but the improvement is far from the level of

3.METHODOLOGY: 4.2.Types of Public Library in Tripura State

For this study, we have follow-up the interview methods In Tripura State, there are basically 6 types of public & collect the date from Head Librarian, State Central Library, libraries namely State Central Library, District libraries, sub- also we have gone through the information on web-portal of divisional Libraries, Block level Libraries, Town level State Central Library of Tripura, Gazette of Tripura, and libraries, & Rural Libraries. other previous study on public library of Tripura State.

4.DATA ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION

On the basis of data collected from the Interview and observation the data has been analyzed and tabulated. All the results have been shows in tabular form made by using MS- Excel as follows

4.1.Administrative & Functional Set-Up of Public Library in Tripura State

Tripura was a Princely State before its accession to the Indian Union on 15thOctober 1949. It became a Union Territory on 1st November 1957 and on 21stJanuary 1972 it was made a full-fledged State. So far no effective efforts have been made for library legislation. At present public library are governed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Govt. of Tripura, followed by Secretary & Director of Higher Education, Govt. of Tripura. The detail architecture of administrative & functional set-up is given bellow in the Fig.

Fig-2: Functional Set-Up & Types of Public Libraries in

Tripura

Fig -1: Administrative & Functional Set-Up of Public Library in Tripura

Table -2: Public Libraries in Tripura State Table 3: Nos. of Public Libraries in respect of Types of Public Library in Tripura State Establishment Sl. Sl. Types of the Public Nos. of Public No. Name of Public Library Year No. Library Libraries Birchandra State Central 1. Library 1895 1. State Central Library 01

South Tripura District 2. Library 1955 2. District Library 07

North Tripura District 3. Library 1954 3. Sub-Divisional library 08

Khowai District 4. Library 1958 4. Town Library 01

Khumulwng District 5. Library 2011 5. Block Level Library 06

Dhalai District 6. Library 1978 6. Rural Library 02

Unakoti District 7. Library 1954 Total 25

Nazrul Grandhaghar 8. Udaipur 1954 Kanchanpur Public 9. Library 1989 Table -4: District wise distribution of Public Libraries of Panisagar Public Tripura 10. Library 1977 Sl. No. Nos. of Public

Bimal Singha Smriti Districts of Tripura

Library 11. Grandhaghar 1961

Teliamura Public 1. West Tripura District 05 12. Library 1974

Amarpur Public 2. Khowai District 02 13. Library 1960

Bishalghar Public 3. Sepahijala District 03 14. Library 1964

Sonamura Public

15. Library 1956 4. South District 05

Sabroom Public

16. Library 1961 5. Gomati District 02

Melaghar Public 17. Library 1967 6. North Tripura District 03 Kakraban Public 18. Library 1977 7. Dhalai District 02 Bangata Public 19. Library 1977 8. Unakoti District 01 Rajnagar Public 20. Library 1977 25 Kathalia Public 21. Library 2009 Nazrul Pathgar 22. Boxanagar 2011 Vshabazar Public 23. Library 1973 Baikhora Public 24. Library 1991 Paharmura Public 25. Library 1980

6.CONCLUSIONS

Public library system efforts to support resource sharing have greatly contributed to the development of system. Public library system members serve library and Information professionals. Public library system compatibility has greatly improved the library user’s ability to access materials not available locally, but held by other public library system members. The increase in interlibrary loan traffic has caused a corresponding expansion of area and statewide interlibrary delivery services; also heavily Tomorrows information professionals will be knowledge navigators instead of information collectors.

In the Indian situation the new generation of librarians will have to face these challenges and risks to remain in the information business in all the sectors. Inter-changeability and capabilities to adjust from one sector to the other will be Chart -1: District wise nos. of public library. the biggest challenge for Indian librarians.

5.SUGGESTIONS The public libraries in Tripura State are not in sufficient no against the State population i.e 3,671,032. So there is need  Keeping in mind the population of Tripura State, to open more public libraries in the state. According to IFLA Government should open more nos. of public (4) standard there should be one library for every 3000 libraries in sub-divisional level, block level, town people. The total population of Tripura state is 3671032 as level, village level & talluka level, so that all people per census 2011. As there is only 25 Public Libraries in can get the information as desired by them. It can be Tripura, so there is need of 1224 public library to be open make more developed the state by the peoples of more to provide the information to all Tripura people. It is Tripura.  evident that only a few percentage of the total population are  Keeping in view of the geographical location, lack of enjoying the benefit of the public Library System while the adequate information , infrastructure and necessary large numbers of the rural people are being deprived of this of promoting the higher education in Tripura, facility. Government should provide sufficient financial support to all public library for their resources & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT services.   At the time of budget allocation of Tripura State, We acknowledge with the great thankful to Sri Subi Ch. Government should make provision to special Debbarma, Head Librarian, Head of Office, Birchandra State budget allocation for the all public libraries Central Library, Agartala for sharing, discussing & providing development.  the facts to us during the course of this research work.  In the present ICT age, every public library must be connected with internet access facility and should REFERENCES have Library Website with linkup of OPAC & other  online resources & services of particular library. [1] Badhusha, K Nazeer & Nagarajan, M. 2012.  Immediate attention should be given to fulfill the Development of Public Library Systems and Services post of library professional staffs to every public in India. Journals of Library & Information Science, library & provide the training-ship to all existing V1, issue 1. Pp 1-5. staff to upgrade their skills towards [2] Dasgupta, Kalpana. (2007). The National Knowledge  the implementation of ICT& new technology to Commission and Libraries: A Vision for the Future.  improve the services of public libraries. New Delhi: Delhi Library Association. Available at  Government should take an initiative to automate http://www.dlaindia.org/srr7.htm, accessed on 24 the all public libraries wit any Open Sources August 2016. Software & develop a union catalogue of all public [3] Diamond, D. (2010) The Economic Value of the Free  libraries in Tripura. Library in Philadelphia. Philadelphia, PA: Fels  Government should make a provision of mobile Institute of Government, University of Pennsylvania. libraries services & must be constitute the Public Available at: Library Act in Tripura State for the development of http://www.freelibrary.org/about/felsstudy.htm libraries as well as the State. (accessed 22 August 2016).

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BIOGRAPHIES

Dr. Manoj Kumar Sinha, Associate Professor & Head, DLISc, Assam University, Silchar.